Sports chat with columnist Gary D'Amato

Wednesday, Jan. 25 transcript

3rd & 7 37yd

3rd & 7 37yd

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Gary, It is hard to criticize the success of MM, but I SCREAMED as loud as I could when we were given the GIFT of winning the coin toss and DEFERRED. AT THAT MOMENT I KNOW WE WOUD LOSE. Are you kidding?? We had a chance to get the ball AND TAKE THE LEAD. Our ONLY CHANCE of winning on the road was to get the lead and put the pressure on their offense. EVERYONE knew both teams had bad defenses, and the game could come down to whoever had the ball last.In a CHAMPIONSHIP game, both teams are there for a reason - THEY ARE THE BEST TWO REMAINING out of 16 AND ATLANTA has a great offense. How can you even think about giving them the ball WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO?? I know this worked in Dallas, BUT, Ryan is not a rookie like the Dallas QB. How different is the entire game IF ATLANTA is the one playing from behind?? If we come out and score, EVERYTHING IS DIFFERENT. The Falcons are now in the position the Packers were in - needing two scores to take the lead. The was an unbelievable decision, much worse than all of the Seattle mistakes, because all we had to do is say - GIVE US THE BALL - we score - now try to catch us!!!!

by gmcgolf1/25/2017 5:58:22 PM

OK, let's get this chat started. Thanks, everyone, for the questions, and I'll try to get to as many as I can. Let's start with this one, about Mike McCarthy's decision to defer on the opening kickoff in Atlanta. I happen to agree with you, gmcgolf. I know deferring has been McCarthy's M.O. for some time, but in this case I think the Packers would have been better served taking the ball. McCarthy had to know his defense was going to be severely tested by Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and those running backs, especially in the Georgia Dome. We can play the "if" game all we want but there's no question the Packers needed to play from the lead in this game. A touchdown or even a field goal on the opening drive wouldn't necessarily have changed the outcome, but it certainly would have helped.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:03:40 PM

Hi Gary. Should us Packer fans be "thankful" for the stewardship of Ted Thompson or should we demand more Super Bowls? Is this current administration a "fart in the wind"?

by Stephan1/25/2017 6:03:59 PM

Stephan, I think Packers fans should expect excellence. There's no reason the Packers can't be a Super Bowl contender every year for the next 6-7 years, as long as Aaron Rodgers is healthy. The players don't lack for anything in terms of resources, Lambeau Field provides a definite home-field advantage (especially in December, when playoff berths are on the line) and the coaching staff has been largely intact for most of Mike McCarthy's tenure. There is stability in leadership, the fans are great and the players are showered with adulation almost to the point of being spoiled. They should win every year and when everything goes right they should get to and win the Super Bowl.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:09:07 PM

Gary: Do you see any way that Ted Thompson changes course this of season and signs one or two high level free agents to help his gaping defense? Also, have you ever seen a player regress as much as D. Randall from year one to year two?

by The Rocket1/25/2017 6:09:48 PM

Rocket, I wrote Sunday that all seven rounds of the draft might not be enough to fix what ails the defense. Maybe that's an exaggeration, but not by much. Everyone knows it's not Ted Thompson's M.O. to sign free agents, but the addition of even one top-tier FA -- a proven pass rusher or a lock-down corner -- would go a long way toward improving the unit, especially because there's a good chance Sam Shields is done and Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers (if he comes back) aren't getting any younger. Demarious Randall did regress this year. Injuries probably at least partially explain his decline, but he also seemed to lose confidence.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:15:36 PM

You'll probably get all kinds of Packers questions but I'm turning my attention to the Brewers. What should I look forward to this season? Lots of changes, I know.

by Jim D.1/25/2017 6:15:49 PM

Sure, let's talk Brewers, Jim. "Lots of changes" is an understatement, isn't it? Spring training is going to be a get-to-know-me exercise. I look for something similar to what we saw in 2016. There will be a lot of young players fighting to make the opening day roster and a lot of jockeying for playing time after that. There are some reasons for cautious optimism because Perez, Villar, Arcia and Broxton look like keepers. The Brewers are going to run a lot and could be fun to watch. Whether they win 68 or 78 games will depend on the starting pitching and whether a solid closer emerges from the bullpen. I think some help will arrive from the minors at some point this season and barring setbacks to key prospects the team could be a playoff contender by 2019. I wouldn't bet the farm on it, but it's at least a real possibility.

If you could only have one on your team, would it be Giannis or Jabari?

by Sheri1/25/2017 6:27:20 PM

Sheri, that's a great question and tough to answer because I think both players still have upsides. Both play hard almost every single night. Both want to be great. I'd say Giannis gets the slight edge because he's a little more versatile. He's just so athletic and long. But you could do a lot worse than starting a team with Jabari Parker.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:31:37 PM

It seems that Jordan Spieth's star shined really bright a couple years ago but has sort of flickered. Is there any golfer out there now who we'll see as the new Tiger someday? Or is the game just have too many good players? As a golf fan, what's better, a game with a figure like Tiger or a game with a host of really good players?

by Jason1/25/2017 6:32:06 PM

Jason, I don't see Jordan Spieth's star flickering. I could easily see him winning three or four tournaments and a major this year. Who knows? He played well at Erin Hills in the 2011 U.S. Amateur -- maybe he wins the U.S. Open there this summer. I don't believe we'll see a "new Tiger" come along. He was just so much better than everybody else for an entire decade. I do believe there are more good, young players today than at any time in PGA Tour history, so it is harder to dominate. But the Tiger Woods of 2000 would beat Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jason Day on their best days. He was just that good. As a golf fan, I think there's more interest in the game when there is one dominant player and everybody else is trying to knock him off his perch. I would love to see Tiger get in the hunt with some of the young guns on the Sunday of a major this year -- the TV ratings would go through the roof.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:37:43 PM

Gary, What do the Badgers need to do to win a CFP Playoff? Is it even possible? I say they do it w/in the next 5 years.

by Ian Druncan1/25/2017 6:38:10 PM

Ian, I think it's possible but in order to do it Paul Chryst will need to identify and groom a top-flight quarterback. Nothing against Bart Houston and Alex Hornibrook. I think they did everything asked of them, but I would put them in the "serviceable" category athletically. You need a dynamic playmaker at quarterback, plus a receiver and a running back who are bound for the early rounds of the NFL. You can't win a national championship without gifted players at the skill positions.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:44:24 PM

Dom Capers has been the DC for 8 years. In 6 of those 8 years the Packer defense has ranked 18th or lower in the NFL. In the 7 post-season games they have lost with him they have given up an average of 36.3 points per game. In 7 games this past season against offenses in the top 15 of the league they gave up an average of 36.9 points per game. How in the world can McCarthy continue to bring this guy back year after year?

by jimf1/25/2017 6:45:08 PM

I'll trust your homework on this one, Jim. In defense -- no pun intended -- of Capers, he was dealt a bad hand this year when he lost Sam Shields early and the defense accumulated injuries to key players as the season progressed. On the other hand, the coverage against the Falcons' receivers Sunday was absolutely atrocious and the pass rush wasn't nearly good enough. When nobody is making plays, is it the coaches' fault or are the players just not good enough? Regardless, there's no excuse for how poorly they played when they were one step away from the Super Bowl. Capers has a lot of respect around the league, but maybe he's lost his touch.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:51:57 PM

why isnt leroy butler ever mentioned as HOF worthy? his numbers suggest he should be a lock.

by billy mumphrey1/25/2017 6:52:46 PM

Billy, I certainly think LeRoy Butler is worthy of consideration for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He was one of the key players on an excellent defense in the 1990s. He was smart and instinctive. He was a playmaker and a leader. And as you point out, his numbers were excellent. The career-ending injury didn't help his chances; he may have needed one or two more really good years. But I wouldn't rule him out for enshrinement in Canton.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 6:57:05 PM

Was the Marquette win last night a fluke? Or are they for real in your opinion?

by JJ1/25/2017 6:57:49 PM

What a great victory for Wojo and the Marquette program. The Golden Eagles also knocked off No. 7 Creighton three days earlier, so I wouldn't call it a fluke. I've only seen them play once in person this season (the loss to Wisconsin) and a half-dozen times on TV. This is probably a better question for our beat writer, Matt Velazquez.

by Gary D'Amato1/25/2017 7:01:58 PM

What is the situation with bj Rajiv. I thought he was taking this year off for personal reasons, a family members illness. Is he coming back. Seems like immediate replacement for Penney and I don't think he ls that old

by Up north1/25/2017 7:02:52 PM

I've run out of time so I'm going to answer this last question and sign off. B.J. Raji did take the year off for personal reasons. Only he could tell you if his heart is still in the game and whether he wants to come back. After taking an entire year off, though, he would face a huge challenge to regain his old form, especially since he'll turn 31 in July. I'd say the odds of a successful comeback are against him.